Golf ball dispensing and teeing apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention is an apparatus which provides the operator a method of setting golf balls onto a golf tee (which is also a part of the mechanism) using their own foot pressure on a lever and their golf club to guide the ball into place thereby enabling the user to shoot continuous golf balls without the need to replace a tee, retrieve a new ball and bend down to place the ball onto the tee manually.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of devices that dispense and tee golf balls for use on a driving range for golf practice, such that a golfer can hit balls in succession without having to manually re-tee a golf ball after each shot. Specifically, the invention relates to such devices that are easily portable and non-powered, such that the device can be utilized in multiple physical locations and on various surfaces.

Golf ball teeing and dispensing devices are well known and the field of these devices can be divided into two categories. Some devices utilize powered delivery systems, while others are non-powered. Of the non-powered type, some require the golfer to manually pivot a dispensing arm to deliver and tee the ball, while others require the golfer to actuate the device using a button or the like, with gravity causing the ball to be delivered and teed. Examples of known golf ball dispensing and teeing devices are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,659 B1 to Peterson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,828 B1 to Reardon, U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,477 B1 to Pascual, U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,578 B2 to Adolf, U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,580 B1 to Schmidt et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,719 B1 to Hwang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,839 to McLinn, U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,862 to Yates, U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,130 to Egan, U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,718 B1 to Chan.

Furthermore, past devices structured to place golf balls onto tees were constructed in two distinct methods. The first method generally consists of golf ball setting equipment positioned wholly or in part underground, and structured for setting the ball on a golf tee, followed by raising the tee and ball to above ground level for play. The second method generally consists of portable equipment which is positioned generally above ground. The above ground ball setting equipment is structured to lower a golf ball onto a stationary tee or other playing surface, followed by retracting out of the way of the golfer's swing.

Examples of underground golf ball setters are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,811 issued Oct. 26, 1982 to Louis E. Williams, Sr., and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,067 issued Dec. 11, 1973 to Joseph A. Gentiluomo. The inherent disadvantages of the underground type of apparatus are that they are generally stationary in design, have many moving parts, and are relatively expensive to build, install and maintain.

The most notable portable design representing an above-ground ball setter is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,983 issued Aug. 17, 1971 to Raymond L. Melton. Melton's portable it ball setter uses a funnel-like hopper for storing a plurality of golf balls as a supply for feeding the setting portion of the apparatus. Melton's funnel-like storage hopper has been found to be unreliable, in that the balls have a tendency to bind or jam periodically against themselves within the hopper, and consequently fail to dispense properly there from. Melton uses a pivotally mounted ball delivery ramp to deliver a single ball onto a golf tee. The delivery ramp is structured with a counterweight designed to retract the ramp out of the way of the golfer's club swing after the ball is set. Melton's delivery ramp is so mounted on its carriage as to allow its dislocation in the event of an inadvertent conflict with an errant club swing. The disengagable delivery ramp is intended to help prevent accidental damage to the apparatus, however, Melton has placed his golf ball selector means, that which selects one ball at a time and prevents additional stored balls from entering the delivery ramp, on one end of his disengagable ball delivery ramp. If for whatever reason the delivery ramp is dislocated from the base of the machine, whatever number of balls that are held in the machine, including all hopper-stored balls would be dumped out of the machine and onto the ground. The dislocation of Melton's delivery ramp would allow whatever number of balls left in the apparatus, which could be a substantial number, to be deposited on the ground immediately toward the feet of the golfer; this is of course assuming the balls did not jam in the funnel-like ball storage hopper. The dumping of a large number of golf balls at the golfer's feet would obviously create a safety hazard, a substantial liability risk, and expend the golfer's time and energy in retrieving and replacing the loose golf balls. The Melton golf ball setter also appears quite elongated, a shape and structure which, unless dismantled would require a substantial amount of floor space for storage of the unit in places such as closets and the like when not in use.

These past devices suffer from various drawbacks which are addressed by the present invention. Some devices require power in the form of batteries or electrical connections, some are non-portable installations, and some involve complicated mechanical systems to deliver and tee the golf ball. Of the devices that utilize gravity to deliver the ball to the tee, none provide means to assist the gravity effect.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved non-powered, user-assisted golf ball delivery and teeing apparatus. The main advantages to this invention are that it is a portable device that is not a complicated mechanical system. The design of this device works with gravity to effortlessly move the ball from the holder to its place on the tee without any jams.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is an apparatus which provides the operator a method of setting golf balls onto a golf tee (which is also a part of the mechanism) using foot pressure on a lever and their golf club to guide the ball into place thereby enabling the user to shoot continuous golf balls without the need to replace a tee, retrieve a new ball and bend down to place the ball onto the tee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1: Top View—This is a view of the apparatus as seen from above. On the right side of the drawing you can see the bowl (1) of the mechanism which holds a plurality of golf balls. The foot lever (3) is activated by the user's foot which, once pressed down, lifts the end of the paddle (6), via the hinge (4) area, to the height of the tee (7) which is connected to the base (11). The user then pushes a golf ball with his golf club through the groove opening (9) at the base of the paddle (6) which the ball will travel through to sit over the opening (8) at the top of the tee (7). When the user lifts their foot off of the foot lever (3), the top portion of the paddle (6) will then lower itself letting the ball rest firmly on the top of the tee (7) for the user to be able to hit the golf ball from without once having to bend down and place the ball on the tee (7) himself.

FIG. 2: Side View (closed)—This is a view of the apparatus as seen from the side with the paddle (6) in the down position. On the right side of the drawing you can see the bowl (1) which holds the golf balls and the bowl edge (2) which permits the balls to stay in the bowl (1). You can see the hinge (4) area—this permits the paddle (6) to lift into the setting position. There are two levers (3)—equally positioned on opposite sides of the apparatus servicing right-handed and left-handed operators. The paddle (6) has two sections—the paddle (6), which is the top portion, and the base (11). The paddle (6) is the piece that lifts from the hinge (4) area and allows the ball to be set on the tee (7) prior to the operator lowering the paddle (6) with his foot. The top of the image shows the groove (5) in which the ball will travel through to get to the top of the tee (7) from the bowl (1).

FIG. 3: Side View (up)—This is a view of the apparatus as seen from the side with the paddle (6) in the up position. On the right side of the drawing you can see the bowl (1) which holds the golf balls and the bowl edge (2) which permits the balls to stay in the bowl (1). You can see the hinge (4) area—this permits the paddle (6) to lift into the setting position, shown here. In this position there is a small cutout (12) which the ball settles in enabling the ball to rest firmly on the tee (7) when the paddle (6) is lowered by the user when he lifts his foot off of the lever (3). There are two levers (3)—equally positioned on opposite sides of the apparatus servicing right-handed and left-handed operators. The paddle (6) has two sections—the paddle (6), which is the top portion, and the base (11). The paddle (6) is the piece that lifts from the hinge (4) area and allows the ball to be set on the tee (7) prior to the operator lowering the lever (3) with his foot. The top of the image shows the groove (5) in which the ball will travel through to get to the top of the tee (7) from the bowl (1).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This is an invention which will allow the user to set their golf balls onto a tee and hit them from the tee with the use of only their foot and club and not having to bend to place the ball on the tee themselves. The unit consists of a bowl at one end which holds the golf balls you will be using. The bowl is attached to a paddle. From the bowl area to the end of the paddle there is a groove which allows a golf ball to travel from the bowl towards the end of the paddle where there is a circular cutout allowing the ball to rest once it reaches a precise location which is directly over the tee. The tee is attached to the unit (not permanently, it attaches to the unit by placing it over a small piece that is a permanent piece of the unit). There is a hinge and two levers (one on each side of the unit allowing the unit to suit both right- and left-handed individuals) in the middle of the unit at the base of the paddle next to the bowl. The paddle consists of two pieces—a top and bottom. When a lever from either side of the unit is pressed (with the user's foot) the paddle will rise to the ‘up’ position which will put the resting area for a golf ball directly over the tee. The user then, using a golf club, pushes a ball into the groove which then travels to the resting area over the tee. Then when the lever is released by raising your foot the paddle lowers to its original position allowing the ball to sit directly onto the tee and now the user is able to hit the golf ball and repeat all steps to continue doing so. 

1. This invention is an apparatus which provides the operator a method of setting golf balls onto a golf tee (which is also a part of the mechanism) using foot pressure on a lever and their golf club to guide the ball into place thereby enabling the user to shoot continuous golf balls without the need to replace a tee, retrieve a new ball and bend down to place the ball onto the tee. 